Phrases you see all the time on the back of video game
boxes: "Blood and
Gore," "Intense Violence," "Strong Language." The "Sexual Violence" content
descriptor has only been used once before, back in 2006. This year, that
infrequently used tag will be used to tell consumers some of what happens in Metal Gear Solid V. Warning:
Spoilers for Metal Gear Solid V follow.

It's
probably not a surprise that the next game in Hideo Kojima's long-running
stealth action series will be getting an M (Mature) rating from the Entertainment
Software Review Board. But the specific notes in the rating summary for Metal Gear
Solid V give away details as to why the game will be categorized as having
sexual violence:

Rating Summary: This is an action game
in which players assume the role of an elite soldier through military missions
in Cuba. Players infiltrate various bases and use pistols, machine guns, and
rocket launchers to kill enemy soldiers. Firefights are highlighted by
realistic gunfire, slow-motion effects, and large blood-splatter effects.
Players can also employ stealth attacks (e.g., choking, knife stabbing from
behind) and have the ability kill non-adversary characters/prisoners. One
cutscene includes a depiction of blood and gore (e.g., a character's intestines
exposed during a dramatic procedure to remove an object). The game includes an
audio file in which a female character is sexually assaulted by male
characters; while there is no visual depiction, sounds of ripped clothing and
struggle can be heard. The words "f**k" and "sh*t" are heard in the dialogue.

When contacted by Kotaku, the ESRB said that only one other game, 2006's Animamundi, have been categorized as having sexual violence. It's
not clear if the female character in the audio file described in the rating
summary is the controversially attired sniper Quiet. Kojima has remarked that
there will be more depth to Quiet than initially meets the eye so it's possible
that the audio file may be part of her backstory. Either way, incorporating sexual
assault into its storyline puts MGS V in rarefied territory.